Australia-UAE CEPA - Key Benefits for Australia

The UAE is a dynamic and globally focused partner and a gateway into the region for Australian exporters. It is Australia´s largest trade and investment partner in the Middle East. Our 2-way trade was worth over $9.94 billion and 2-way investment stock worth $20.6 billion in 2023.¹

The Australia-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) gives a competitive advantage to Australian exporters, locks in access to services markets, and provides a framework to facilitate investment to support Australia's energy transition and Future Made in Australia ambitions.

Goods

When fully implemented, CEPA will eliminate tariffs on over 99 per cent of Australia's exports to the UAE by value, with most tariffs eliminated on entry-into-force or locked in at zero and others eliminated over three or five stages. This makes CEPA the most liberalising FTA the UAE has agreed to date. Independent modelling estimates a potential annual increase in Australian goods exports of around $678 million.

Removal of the UAE's import tariffs will create commercially significant benefits for Australian exporters. This opens opportunities for Australian exporters to diversify into this important Middle East market and provides greater certainty on the tariff treatment they will receive.

Australian exporters will benefit across the board.

Farmers and food and beverage producers stand to gain from preferential access to the UAE´s growing market for premium food and agricultural products, with elimination of tariffs on products such as frozen beef and sheep meat, canola seeds, dried legumes and dairy.

CEPA will also benefit exporters of products such as automotive parts, gold, nickel, coal, diamonds. First Nations businesses will benefit from the preferential market access available to all Australians, giving them a competitive advantage in areas of interest such as bush foods, bush skincare and fashion.

Australia has also achieved other modern, flexible and trade-facilitating outcomes on rules of origin, complemented by inclusion of commitments for customs procedures.

The CEPA include mechanisms to resolve Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) which might otherwise impede trade. Modern provisions on Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures and Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) will ensure a cross-border regulatory environment which facilitates the flow of goods.

Benefits for farmers

Farmers exporting to the UAE will directly benefit from the removal of import tariffs in the UAE and preferential access to key markets.

Dairy

• Tariffs on all dairy products will be eliminated on entry-into-force.  
• This will give our $3 billion of global exports duty-free access to the UAE.  

Red meat

• Duties on Australia's red meat exports to the UAE – worth over $460 million annually – will be eliminated on entry-into-force.   
• The UAE is Australia's 4th largest market for sheep meat, with Australia exporting $270 million to the UAE annually. That makes it our second largest agricultural export to that market.   
• Australia exported $181 million worth of beef to the UAE in 2023 – our largest market in the Middle East. 

Wine

• The tariff on bottled and sparkling wine will be reduced to 45 per cent compared to the current applied tariff rate of 50 per cent. This provides Australia with better access than many other competitors.
• This will provide a major competitive advantage for Australia's $14 million of annual wine exports.

Canola seeds

• The UAE will eliminate its 5 per cent tariff on entry-into-force. This will give our largest export to the UAE - $741 million annually – duty free access to this market.

Other grains and oilseeds

• Duties on Australia's $215 million of other grain and oilseed exports to the UAE will fall to zero immediately. 

Pulses

• The 5 per cent tariff on pulses will be eliminated immediately. This will benefit the $248 million worth of pulses that Australia sends to the UAE each year.

Horticulture

• The 5 per cent tariffs on horticultural products will be eliminated on entry into force. This is a major benefit for the $88 million of horticultural goods we export to the UAE each year.

Honey

• The 5 per cent duty on honey will be eliminated immediately. This will provide Australia's $57 million of global annual honey exports with exciting new opportunities in the UAE.

Benefits for industry

Aluminium

• The duties on many aluminium products will be eliminated immediately, with the remaining duties eliminated over 3-to-5 years. This will create new opportunities for Australia's $6.4 billion of global exports. 

Gold

• The tariff on Australia's gold exports to the UAE has been locked at zero, preventing the UAE from increasing it to the previous limit of 15 per cent. This will provide our $177 million of exports with preferential access over our competitors. 

Vehicle parts

• Tariffs on vehicle parts will be eliminated either immediately or over 3 years. This is a major outcome for Australia's largest vehicle parts export market, worth $221 million annually.

Pharmaceuticals

• Tariffs on Australia's $35 million in pharmaceutical exports will be locked at zero, ensuring a competitive edge for Australian firms.

Cosmetics

• Australia's $38 million of cosmetics exports will see duties eliminated immediately.

Jewellery

• The tariff on jewellery exported to the UAE will be eliminated immediately (with tariffs on some items eliminated over three years) – a significant boost for our $31 million of annual exports.

Services

Australia and the UAE are services-oriented economies, with 2-way trade in services worth $3.8 billion in 2023. The Australia-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) establishes high-quality rules to address behind-the-border barriers to services trade while locking in market access to more than 120 sectors and subsectors in the UAE for Australian service suppliers.

CEPA goes beyond the UAE's existing commitments to Australia under the World Trade Organization (WTO) and its best-FTA practice. Australian service providers will benefit from the UAE's commitments on market access and national treatment (to treat foreign and domestic suppliers equally) in a range of sectors, including:

• Professional services including the supply of legal, accounting, architectural, medical and dental services, and veterinary services
• Other business services including advertising, management consulting, scientific and technical consulting, and services incidental to manufacturing
• Communication and audiovisual services
• Distribution services including wholesale trade services and retailing services
• Financial services
• Health services
• Education services in secondary and higher education services
• Environmental services
• Tourism and travel related services and recreational services.

The UAE's commitments lock in foreign equity caps up to 100 per cent in a range of sectors and subsectors.

CEPA ensures that any advantages the UAE provides to future FTA partners in certain sectors and subsectors will automatically be extended to Australia service providers. Those sectors and subsectors include:

• research and development
• management consulting services
• services incidental to manufacturing
• accounting services
• computer and related services
• environmental services
• hospital services.

CEPA encourages increased collaboration between UAE and Australian professional services accreditation and regulatory bodies. Australian professionals will benefit from provisions to support mutual recognition of qualifications and greater certainty as they enter the UAE labour market.

CEPA includes dedicated Annexes on Telecommunications and Financial Services.

Skilled Labour Mobility

Australian skilled service providers, investors and business visitors will benefit from greater certainty of access into the UAE.

Key outcomes for skilled service providers, investors and business visitors include:

• Business visitors responsible for setting up an enterprise in the UAE, undertaking meetings, consultations, and negotiations for the sale of services and other similar activities, will be able to visit for 3-months in any 12-month period.
• Guaranteed access for managers and specialists to undertake 3-year intra-corporate transfers to the UAE.
• Australians entering the UAE as Contractual Service Suppliers will be able to undertake temporary work for up to 3-months, providing new opportunities for our service suppliers to work in the UAE.

CEPA will not include new waivers of labour market testing (a form of economic needs testing).

Investment

The Australia-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) investment outcome is a comprehensive package that will support and promote quality 2-way investment.  It covers key sectors relevant to Australia's clean energy transition and Future Made in Australia objectives. The outcome comprises a chapter in CEPA; a separate Investment Agreement; and 5 innovative Investment Cooperation Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs).

The Investment chapter focuses on promotion and facilitation of 2-way investment and includes modern provisions on the environment and engagement with First Nations people.

The Investment Agreement includes investment protections and non-discrimination provisions that provide certainty to Australian and UAE investors while preserving the Government's right to regulate in the public interest. It does not include Investor-State Dispute Settlement provisions. It also includes provisions on corporate social responsibility and encourages meaningful engagement and dialogue between investors and First Nations people and local communities. 

To attract more UAE investment into Australia, the Investment Agreement establishes a Council on Investment which facilitates continued political and technical-level exchanges on the investment relationship. The Council is co-chaired for Australia jointly by the Minister for Trade and Tourism and the Treasurer, and co-chaired for the UAE jointly by the Ministers for Investment and Finance. The Council will convene within 12 months of entry into force and then at least once every two years. Specific matters can be referred to the Council and senior officials can take forward the work of the Council, including in relation to investment projects.

Under the Investment Cooperation MOUs, Australia and the UAE will facilitate collaboration between:

• relevant government agencies,
• sub-national governments,
• independent regulatory authorities,
• private sector enterprises,
• Public – Private Partnership project proponents, including small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and
• stakeholders across both countries.

This collaboration will galvanise and promote 2-way investment in sectors of national priority including:

Green and Renewable Energy

With both the UAE and Australia outlining ambitious targets to reduce carbon emissions and achieve net zero by 2050, the 2 nations will focus on facilitating investment in key areas of green and renewable energy. This includes supporting large-scale green and renewable energy generation projects, such as green hydrogen, solar, wind and hydro energy.

Investments will also target the development of low-carbon liquid fuels, including technology pathways to produce advanced biofuels and synthetic fuels, with a focus on sustainable aviation fuels, renewable diesel, biodiesel, bioethanol and e-fuels; as well as energy-efficient and low-emission technologies.

In addition, both countries will encourage the adoption of innovative technologies to reduce production costs, improve energy transportation infrastructure, enhance energy storage systems and deploy carbon capture solutions.

Data Centres and AI Projects

Australia and the UAE will look to facilitate and drive investment in data centres and artificial intelligence (AI). This includes exploring and assessing investment opportunities in new data centres, including green data centres, and in the development and deployment of safe and responsible AI solutions, incorporating safety by design.

Minerals

Australia and the UAE will focus on promoting investment in the minerals sector through facilitating cooperation in areas that explore and promote projects in mineral exploration and extraction, mine development, and processing and mineral marketing. This cooperation will also support responsible and sustainable governance in the mineral sector, and training and education opportunities for talent across the mineral value chain.

Food and Agriculture

As food security becomes ever more important, the UAE and Australia will seek to drive investment in areas that address growing demand for agricultural goods. This includes supporting investment in supply chains for bilateral agricultural exports, developing projects that enable producers and processors to diversify and create value-added products, advancing efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, promoting best land management practices, and implementing climate-smart sustainable agricultural technologies and practices.

Infrastructure Development

Australia and the UAE will look at facilitating and driving investment in infrastructure projects that enhance productivity, economic growth, and resilience to environmental impacts, while supporting the transition to net zero emissions. This includes projects in transport, social infrastructure, advanced technologies, and sustainable tourism.

The list of investment areas set out in these MOUs is not exhaustive and both governments welcome further investment across a wide range of sectors.  The private sector plays a critical role in driving investment and the purpose of these MOUs is to set out priority areas for 2-way investment for Australia and the UAE.  They are also designed to emphasise both governments' commitments to taking practical, relevant steps to facilitate and promote 2-way investment within existing investment frameworks.  

The investment outcomes, including the MOUs, will not impact the operation of Australia's foreign investment framework.

Trade and Labour

Australia and the UAE recognise the importance of a stable and productive labour environment to support productivity, business investment and contribute to sustainable economic development.  

The Australia-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) Trade and Labour Chapter promotes compliance with internationally recognised labour rights and enhances cooperation and dialogue between Australia and the UAE on labour issues. The chapter is the first of its kind for the UAE.

The CEPA affirms Australia and the UAE's commitment to respect and advance labour rights, including those stated in the International Labour Organization (ILO) Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work and its Follow-up.

CEPA promotes compliance with ILO standards and enforcement of labour laws. Australia and the UAE have undertaken to encourage high levels of labour protection and strive to continue to improve their laws and policies. This includes efforts to enhance transparency, promote public awareness and provide procedural guarantees.

The CEPA acknowledges the importance of non-discrimination, equality and safety in the workplace, including to eliminate violence and harassment from the world of work.

Australia and the UAE recognise the goal of eliminating all forms of forced and compulsory labour. The CEPA affirms both countries' commitments under the relevant ILO conventions to address forced labour and discourages the import of goods produced by forced labour in supply chains.

Other key areas of achievement on labour within the CEPA include:

• addressing current issues such as workforce development and respect for labour rights in the digital economy.
• promoting cooperation between Australia and the UAE on labour issues, including working on labour laws and practices in the context of the ILO Declaration.
• encouraging corporate social responsibility initiatives on labour.
• establishing a Dialogue on Labour to advance labour rights, support cooperative activities and facilitate engagement with relevant stakeholders and social partners.

Environment and the Transition to Net Zero

Australia and the UAE both recognise the links between trade, climate change and environmental protection.  Through the Australia-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), both countries have demonstrated their willingness to act on these challenges together.

The CEPA has a dedicated chapter covering Environment and the Transition to Net Zero, which is the first time the UAE has agreed to such a chapter in a trade agreement.

The CEPA recognises that international environmental agreements, including the Paris Agreement, Montreal Protocol, the high seas biodiversity treaty and the MARPOL Convention, play an important role in protecting the environment. Implementation of these agreements is an important and common goal. 

Australia and the UAE will work together to address a range of trade-related environmental challenges, including addressing climate change, promoting the circular economy, reducing pollution, improving air quality, and preventing overfishing and illegal wildlife trade. 

Key environmental outcomes in the CEPA include commitments that Australia and the UAE:

• facilitate and promote trade and investment in environmental goods and services, including supporting the use of clean, renewable and efficient energy technology and solutions that contribute to achieve net zero emissions
• recognise the importance of establishing and maintaining environmental laws and policies to prevent, control and reduce plastic pollution and marine litter
• conserve and restore blue carbon ecosystems, including through consideration of nature-based solutions for mitigation of and adaptation to climate change and improving biodiversity
• seek to operate fisheries management systems designed to prevent overfishing and overcapacity, promote the recovery of overfished stocks and support efforts to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing practices
• promote the conservation of sharks, marine turtles, seabirds and marine mammals by implementing and enforcing effective conservation and management measures, such as bycatch mitigation
• promote the conservation of wild flora and fauna, and take measures to protect at-risk wildlife in its territory, including measures to protect the ecological integrity of designated natural protected areas
• fulfil their obligations under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and take measures to combat illegal trade in wild fauna and flora.

The CEPA also provides for both countries to undertake cooperative activities related to implementing these commitments, such as workshops, collaborative projects, technical assistance and information exchange.

Trade, Gender Balance and Women's Economic Empowerment

Australia and the UAE acknowledge the importance of women's economic empowerment to sustainable, inclusive and equitable trade and investment.

Through the Australia-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), the Trade, Gender Balance and Women's Economic Empowerment Chapter supports the goal of ensuring the Agreement creates equitable opportunities for women as workers, traders, and consumers. This chapter is a significant achievement for both the UAE and Australia to promote the benefits of trade to all.

Australia and UAE agreed to cooperate and exchange of information on best practices to advance women's economic empowerment in trade and investment.

The CEPA commits Australia and the UAE to integrate women's economic empowerment in their trade and investment relationship including through:

• policy development
• removal of barriers that limit opportunities
• supporting inclusive and equitable access
• sharing information, tools and experiences to advance women's empowerment in trade and investment.

The CEPA acknowledges the importance of women's full and equal participation and leadership in the economy and promotes non-discrimination in the workplace, including to address gender pay gaps and safety in the workplace.

Both countries recognise and affirm key international instruments such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, Sustainable Development Goal 5 of the United Nations 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development, the 1995 Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and women's economic empowerment commitments in other international agreements and instruments.

First Nations Trade and Cooperation

The Australia-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) contains the first standalone chapter in an Australian trade agreement which is dedicated to trade and investment economic cooperation with First Nations and Indigenous People.

It promotes cooperation between the two countries and recognises the important and unique contribution that First Nations people and businesses make to international trade and investment.  It also acknowledges the importance of empowering First Nations people and businesses to benefit from the opportunities created by the CEPA.

The CEPA provide a framework for joint trade and investment promotion activities relevant for First Nations businesses. First Nations businesses that may benefit include those that relate to or derive from traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions such as:

• arts and crafts
• dance and music
• tourism
• food and agri-business
• biological diversity and environmental management
• the green economy
• resources.

The agreement provides for coordination to prevent exports of counterfeit goods purporting to derive from traditional knowledge or traditional cultural expression. It also provides a basis for future discussions on resale royalty rights of artists, including First Nations artists.

Genetic resources, traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions are acknowledged in the agreement.  This includes with respect to the names and uses of plants, traditional foods, language, song, stories, songlines, dance and works of art.

The agreement encourages investors to undertake and maintain early and meaningful engagement and dialogue with First Nations people and businesses on investment activities, with a view to ensuring they benefit from those activities.

The preferential access open to all Australian businesses under CEPA will make First Nations businesses more competitive in targeting exports in areas of interest such as bush foods, bush skincare and fashion. 

Sustainable Agriculture

The Australia-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) includes Australia's first standalone chapter on sustainable agriculture and food systems in a trade agreement. The chapter recognises the role of agriculture in ensuring food security and driving climate resilience, emissions reductions and other environmental outcomes.

The CEPA recognises the diversity of agricultural production methods as well as the  environmental, economic and social conditions where they are employed.  It acknowledges that each country must tailor its sustainability approach accordingly and that 'no-one-size-fits-all'.

The role of rules-based and market-orientated agricultural trade in supporting global food security and improved environmental outcomes is also acknowledged.

Importantly, both countries have committed to ensuring that measures introduced for sustainability purposes use science and evidence-based metrics and are no more trade-restrictive than necessary to achieve their purpose.

This is an important step in the journey to wider international recognition of sustainable agriculture principles.

Animal Welfare

The Australia-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) includes a commitment that both countries will continue to improve their level of animal welfare protection. 

It also provides for cooperation and information exchange on this important topic, including on issues relating to the treatment of farmed animals.

Importantly, the CEPA includes a mechanism through which either country can initiate a dialogue on any issue related to animal welfare.

The Agreement does not affect Australia's right to regulate animal welfare according to our domestic policies and priorities.

Digital Trade

The Australia-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) sets out carefully calibrated digital trade rules that will help unlock the benefits of the digital economy for businesses of all sizes, workers and communities.

Australia and the UAE have agreed ambitious commitments that will facilitate trade, including by providing for the acceptance of electronic documents, e-signatures, e-invoicing and e-payments, and the promotion of digital trade standards.

The CEPA also provides certainty for businesses through a permanent prohibition on the charging of customs duties on electronic transmissions between Australia and the UAE. The agreement seeks to minimise impediments to the cross-border flow of data while retaining the ability of government to regulate for legitimate public policy objectives. The agreement will also help to guard sensitive business information, with rules protecting source code and ICT products using cryptography.

Australia and the UAE have also agreed rules to help protect digital consumers and build trust in the online trading environment. These include provisions governing personal information protection, consumer protection and limiting unsolicited commercial electronic messages (spam).

The CEPA will promote digital governance and support for communities through commitments on open internet access, open government data, online safety and security and sharing experiences in digital government.

Australia and the UAE will also cooperate, share knowledge and best-practice, and support digital trade in areas such as:

• digital identities
• data innovation
• digital inclusion
• cyber security.

Government procurement

The Australia-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) will provide Australian suppliers with guaranteed access to the UAE's government procurement market for the first time.

Australia will be one of a small number of countries able to bid for competitive opportunities within the UAE's government procurement market at the central government level. Australian suppliers will be able access more opportunities as the UAE grows its government procurement market over time.

The government procurement outcomes will benefit Australian suppliers across the board, including SMEs and First Nations businesses – giving them the right to bid for contracts on a fair and transparent basis in the UAE market.

Intellectual Property

The Australia-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) will promote adequate, effective and balanced protection and enforcement of Intellectual Property (IP) rights. It will also encourage innovation and creativity.

The CEPA outcomes will:

• facilitate trade and investment in IP
• provide increased clarity for Australian businesses and innovators
• balance the legitimate interests of IP rights holders, IP users and the public interest
• protect the right for each government to regulate in important public policy areas.

The CEPA will also protect the integrity of Australia's health and pharmaceuticals systems, including the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.

The outcomes are consistent with our existing FTA and multilateral obligations.  These preserve Australia's ability to regulate and pursue its public policy interests in IP rights, including copyright and related rights, trademarks, geographical indications, industrial designs, patents and protection of plant varieties. They do not require changes to Australian law.

The CEPA will encourage cooperation and exchange of information in areas including protection and enforcement of IP. The CEPA also promotes transparency of IP systems, making it easier for traders to obtain information about existing rights.

Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs)

The Australia-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) contains commitments that support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to secure benefits from the agreement. The CEPA contains articles providing online resources for SMEs considering trading or investing in the other country.  It also commits to exchanging best practice in promoting SMEs engagement in international trade and addressing specific trade barriers faced by SMEs.

The CEPA explicitly recognises the importance of SMEs owned or led by under-represented groups, such as women, youth, First Nations, persons with a disability and minority groups, participating in international trade. The agreement will support SMEs by eliminating tariffs and removing red tape that slows down trade. All services providers, including those running their own business, will have greater certainty of access and regulatory conditions when exporting to the UAE.

The CEPA will create new commercial opportunities for Australian businesses of all shapes and sizes and deepen our already strong investment ties that support business growth.

Outcomes that will benefit Australian SMEs wanting to trade with the UAE include:

• elimination of tariffs on over 99 per cent of Australian goods exports by value, with most tariffs eliminated on entry-into-force or locked in at zero and others eliminated over three or five stages
• reduction in costs and red tape by making it simpler for traders to prove the originating status of their goods
• faster timeframes for customs clearance to provide greater certainty to exporters
• rules that address restrictions and discrimination when accessing the UAE services market, as well as behind-the-border procedural and related domestic regulation barriers
• rules that provide for the acceptance of electronic trade documents; e-signatures; e-invoicing; and e-payments.
• rules that seek to make cross-border trade less burdensome through minimising data localisation requirements and restrictions on the cross-border flow of data
• a requirement to publish procurement notices electronically to ensure all suppliers have access to the same information about procurement opportunities
• best practice commitments to facilitate the participation of SMEs in government procurement opportunities
• mechanisms to resolve Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) which might otherwise impede trade
• rules on competition, including provisions related to state-owned enterprises.

Competition and Consumer Protections

Australia and the UAE are committed to the principles of a fair and equitable business environment.

The Australia-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) contains a dedicated chapter on competition and consumer protections, including provisions relating its application to state-owned enterprises.

This aspect of the CEPA focusses on promoting competition, enhancing economic efficiency and improving consumer welfare through the adoption and maintenance of laws and regulations that forbid anti‑competitive behaviour and protect consumers.

Areas of key emphasis related to competition and consumer protection include:

• the need to prohibit anti-competitive conduct, particularly in preventing businesses using dominant market positions or agreements to distort market practices
• the importance of transparent and independent processes and investigations, and for ensuring open participation of all parties
• ensuring consumer rights are established and maintained, and opportunities are available for consumers to seek redress, where necessary
• preventing discrimination in investigations or decision making based on the type or nationality of a business and its operations
• increasing ongoing interaction and cooperation between respective competition and consumer protection agencies, particularly with opportunities to share experiences and engage in international settings.

Transparency and Anti-Corruption

The Australia-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) contains a dedicated chapter on transparency and anti-corruption. These cross-cutting provisions reflect existing Australian laws and practices regarding transparency in public administration and publication of information.

The CEPA includes a provision that affirms the shared commitment of Australia and the UAE to combat corruption including bribery in international trade. It requires both countries to adopt or maintain, and effectively enforce, appropriate measures to prevent and combat corruption in line with their domestic laws. This provision sits alongside both countries' existing obligations under other international agreements, including the UN Convention against Corruption and the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime.

Economic Cooperation

The Australia-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) promotes practical economic cooperation in a range of areas to support the objectives of the CEPA agreement, including closer business-to-business engagement. Both countries will look at innovative and practical means to implement this cooperation, with a strong focus on supporting private sector-led initiatives.

In a non-exhaustive list, which can be expanded in the future, both countries have agreed the initial focus of this cooperation may cover a range of areas including:

• food security
• agriculture
• forestry and fisheries
• trade and investment promotion
• tourism
• promotion of electronic commerce
• trade and sustainable development
• logistics and international transportation
• scientific research and educations
• trade in halal products and gems and jewellery
• competition policy
• global value chains. 

Legal and Institutional Framework

The Australia-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) establishes a legal and institutional framework that ensures its effective and efficient implementation.  This includes a streamlined committee structure and a robust state-to-state dispute settlement mechanism. The CEPA also includes exceptions to ensure both governments can continue to regulate in the public interest, including to protect essential security interests.

¹ Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade adjusted Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), 2024, International trade in goods and services, Australia (Jun-2023 data), calendar year